Drug and Alcohol Use Among Teenagers and Young Adults

Introduction

Although there have been many significant achievements in drug abuse prevention over the past few decades, drug use among youth continues to be a leading health risk. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use have had an extraordinary impact on the morbidity and mortality of young people. The cost of negative outcomes attributed to adolescent drug use affects nearly half a million individuals annually (Peterson, 2010). Economic costs of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by youth were estimated to reach $484 billion in 2004 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004).

This literature review examines the problem of drug and alcohol use among teenagers and young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Twelve research studies on this topic were reviewed. After examining this body of research, the author describes deficiencies in the existing literature and identifies areas in need of further study. The main research studies included in this review address the prevalence of drug and alcohol use among youth, the causes and effects of substance and alcohol use, and the role of parents and social connections as factors in reducing drug abuse among teenagers. Help-seeking behaviors are also examined as a key variable.

Prevalence of Drug Abuse Among Youth

Peterson (2010) conducted qualitative research comparing parent and adolescent views regarding substance use and found that substance abuse and dependence are clearly among the most severe problems faced by individuals, their families, communities, and social support systems in the United States. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is common among American youth and may be perceived as a rite of passage to adulthood. Substance use by teenagers is a prevalent health concern, and adolescents who initiate early use of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs face a greater risk for later substance abuse (Peterson, 2010).

These findings are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), whose report Healthy Youth! Coordinated School Health shows that youth are initiating substance use at younger ages. By the ninth grade, 38% of youth have tried cigarettes and nearly 20% have become regular smokers. Nationwide, 24% of students in grades 9 through 12 reported having five or more drinks in a row (binge drinking), and 46% of twelfth-grade students reported having used marijuana in their lifetime (CDC, 2010).

O'Connor and Stewart (2010) reported that in the United States, over 9% of individuals aged 12 and older meet the DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse or dependence within the past year. They also reported that 23% of the adult U.S. population engages in heavy episodic binge drinking at least once a month. Myrick and Wright (2008) further claimed that 100,000 Americans die annually from diseases related to alcohol or alcohol-related injury, and that at least 15% of health care expenditures — amounting to more than $185 billion annually in medical costs, loss of property and life, and reduced productivity — can be traced to alcohol dependence. Ibanez, Ruiperez, Villa, Moya, and Ortet (2008) added that high alcohol and drug consumption is associated with many diseases, including hypertension, stroke, liver disease, and several types of cancer.

Social Connections and Their Association with Drug Use

Research consistently shows that early alcohol use in adolescence is associated with a range of antisocial behaviors, including use of other drugs, poor school performance, violence, engaging in unprotected sex, and drunk driving. Notably, about half of drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 who die in car crashes have been found to have measurable alcohol in their blood.

Kalaydjian (2009) reported that alcohol and drug abuse and dependence are associated with male sex, young age, non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity, low educational attainment, student status, and never having been married. Despite the high prevalence rates of substance abuse and dependence, engagement in help-seeking behaviors by substance users is not the norm. Caldeira (2009) reported that the rate of initiation of help-seeking by substance users is only 8.8%.

Grella, Karno, Warda, Moore, and Niv (2009) additionally reported that, of those diagnosed with substance dependence in the past year, 77% perceived no need for help or received no help during that period. The authors found that factors associated with increased help-seeking behavior include older age, a longer time since the onset of dependence, and the presence of a co-occurring mood disorder. In contrast, Freyer reported that persons who intend to seek help are 8.7 times more likely to use available resources compared to those who do not intend to seek help, suggesting that intention is a key factor in accessing substance abuse and dependence services.